The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1887-12-30
ONE CHRISTMAS.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

"Tbat there Marthy Avery is the foolish
est critter that ever lived, swan to man
Here's her father dead, and she left with
al that brood of her stepmother's young
ones: and instead of sendn' 'em to their
grandfather she ups and says she is goin'
to support 'cm herself. She won't get nv
Ja5oz if that's her idee, for I'Il Just put
my foot down"
Martha is a likely girl"
''Therc'5 three gals and a boy baby, and
they lain't 10 call nor claim on her.
There's them as would make her good,
forehanled providpr, but 10 man won't
tol;e Il huh family on his hands to onct.
It's bad enough marrying widders, but
nobody wants Il lot of sicllly young ones
a-catipg up all the substance of q farm.
80, indeed!''
Wall, You know, Mrs. Hemphill, Mar
thy feels as if the children hes as good q
right as herself to tho farm; they was her
father's."
Yes; but he didn't make no will, and
the farm and the spttin' out was all Mar
thy's own mothers, SO nobody can't dis
pute her claim. Besides, what does slip
of u Girl like that know bout carryin' on
farm, I'd like to llnow?n
"It's too bad; but, as you say, she'll
find how hard it is to manage q farm. I
am greatly exercised for her, and Ill ask
the sisterhood TO make her subject of an
Prirgle as she gave little sigh, and
folded up her Hitting to take her seat at
Mrs Hemphill's well filled tea table, for
she had ridden over to spend the after
noon aud have a good visit.
,JahnH Mrs Homnhill;s only con md
his father came In and took their accus-
toned places, and the father asked very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured a-Discuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his "amen.''
Jabez was a handsome, frank young
fellow, who worked very hard and had no
vices, but who possessed fair share of
manly virtues.
He found time, somehow, after the null
hfarious duties on q farm were done, to
study, ard to slip over to the Avery farm
very often.
Being q steady and handsome young
fellow, his mother naturally looked on
him with pride, and now she felt that she
was doing her duty rs a wise mother in
discorlntenuncing such a foolish action on
Martha's part as adopting her three little
half sisters and baby brother.
Meanwhile, Martha was working, as if
her life depended upon it, over q refrac-
tory churning, and her pretty face was
wrinllled into q frown and her cheeks
famed crimson, and little sparks of anger
seemed to shoot from her eyes that had.
yet a suspicion Of tears not far
She jerlled the dasher with -indictive
little movements, as if she wished she had
some particular person under the dashcr,
and withal it did seem rs if that butter
was bcwitchcd.
81 don't wonder it won't come" said
Martha, at last. Hateful old thing! AS
If depended upon her, Or as if wanted
her tJabez.' 1 guess l can manage q
farm; at any rate, l must try, for with
Gods l.elp will take care Of these poor
little children. Addie can help take care
of the others-and think she is cruel
Oh!''
This exclamation was brought forth by
the sudden sight of Jabez, rs he sprung
over the fence and walked into the well
kept kitchen without word of warning
or invitation.
He walked directly up to Martha and
clasped both of his hands around hers as
she held the ''dasher," and said cheerily:
s'Well, Martie, how are you? Here, you
sit down and let me do this, and can
look at you all the while, and that will
pay me for my work.